Team Komodo Dragon

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history of tamiya

Tamiya ventured into the modeling business in 1948, with a scale wooden ship model kit. Since then, Tamiya has been striving to offer merchandise that can truly be called "First in Quality Around the World."

Now Tamiya is offering more than 300 different products, both in the fields of precision static models and high performance radio control vehicles. These products are not only sold in Japan but also exported in vast quantities to the United States, Europe, South East Asia, and to many other parts of the world. The standard of excellence achieved by Tamiya is regarded as among the very finest in the world of model hobbies.

Brief History of Tamiya, Inc.

1946 Mr. Yoshio Tamiya founded a saw mill/lumber factory          in Shizuoka-City.
1947 A wooden model department was organized within          the lumber company.
1953 Sawmill was closed and Tamiya became a          specialized wooden model kit maker.
1960 Tamiya began producing model kits
1968 Tamiya became the first Japanese model kit          manufacturer to exhibit at the Nuremberg Toy Fair in          Germany.
         The 1/35 scale Military Miniature Series was started.
1976 Tamiya released the 1/12 scale electric powered R/C          Porsche 934 Turbo that triggered radio control cars'          booming popularity.
1977 Mr. Shunsaku Tamiya became the president and          Chief Executive for Tamiya Plastic Model, Co.
         The 1/24 scale Sports Car Series was started.
1981 The 1/12 scale Motorcycle Series was started.
1984 Mr. Shunsaku Tamiya became the president and          Chief Executive for Tamiya, Inc.
1987 1/32 scale motorized "Racing Mini 4WD" cars, which          were first introduced in the previous year, recorded          a total production of quantity exceeding 10 million          units.
1988 Founder Mr. Yoshio Tamiya died at the age of 83.
1989 Tamiya America, Inc. was established in Los          Angeles, CA, U.S.A.
         Tamiya Europe was established in Germany.
1995 Tamiya Philippines, Inc. was established and          started model kit production.
1996 The Tamiya Kakegawa R/C Circuit was opened in          Kakegawa-City, Shizuoka, Japan